6 Effective Essential Oils for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The joint pain, the swelling, and the
stiffness that come with rheumatoid arthritis make living with the
condition a painful struggle. And because rheumatoid arthritis is,
sadly, a chronic and incurable disease, at least for now, sufferers are
forced to live with the condition for years and decades, and experience
many life limitations brought about by the condition.
If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis,
you are most likely already taking medications prescribed by your doctor
that help with the pain and inflammation. But there are also several
effective and safe complementary treatments that can further help
improve the symptoms of the condition, and one of the most widely
accepted and effective ones is the use of essential oils. Not all
essential oils can help with arthritis, as each of these oils is made of
a different herb, bark, or root, and you need to seek out the ones with
the most powerful anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and
swelling-reducing properties to experience any potential benefits.
Below, we have listed 6 essential oils that have all of the
above-mentioned properties for your convenience. These oils have been
used to treat arthritis for a long time and they also have scientific
evidence to back up their effectiveness.
1. Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil is derived from the leaves
of Australian eucalyptus trees, the very same trees koalas munch on. The
essential oil has a strong herbal smell that's known to cut through a
clogged-up nose and ease a cough. More importantly for our purposes,
though, the oil also has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and a
pain-relieving effect, which is why eucalyptus oil is also used to
disinfect wounds and improve joint pain. It is also believed that the
oil may help improve blood circulation.
A study from 2013 that involved patients who recently had knee
replacement surgery found that inhaling eucalyptus oil for half an hour
for just 3 days in a row yielded a marked reduction in pain,
inflammation, and blood pressure.
How to use eucalyptus oil for arthritis:
There are several ways you can use eucalyptus oil, the simplest one
probably being just to add in a few drops of the oil before taking a
warm bath. You can also try inhaling or rubbing diluted eucalyptus oil
in a carrier oil (e.g. almond oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil)
directly onto the skin.
2. Evening Primrose Oil
Evening primrose oil has several health
benefits, most of which are linked to the oil's anti-inflammatory
properties. The oil is made from the common evening-primrose flower
(Oenothera biennis) and has a bright yellow hue, as well as a distinctly
oily smell. Researchers have found that the essential oil contains a
type of fat called gamma-linoleic acid (GLA), which the human body
converts into anti-inflammatory agents. In addition, evening primrose
oil contains another anti-inflammatory compound called beta-amyrin.
When it comes to arthritis symptoms specifically, evening primrose oil
aids in reducing the joint pain, stiffness, and tenderness associated
with the condition.
How to use evening primrose oil for arthritis:
Evening primrose oil is one of the rare essential oils you can ingest,
and it's commonly sold in 500mg capsules. According to the Arthritis
Foundation, rheumatoid arthritis sufferers can take between 540 mg to
2.8 g of the oil daily in divided doses. They also add that it usually
takes about 6 months of treatment for you to see an improvement.
3. Ginger Oil 
The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger are widely known, and so it's
little surprise that patients with chronic inflammatory conditions like
arthritis are advised to take ginger. Another way you can get a
concentrated dose of ginger is through ginger oil, which has shown to
have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties.
A study from 2001 looked at the effect of ginger extract on
arthritis-related knee pain, and participants reported a reduction in
pain and ended up using painkillers less than the placebo group over
time.
How to use ginger oil for arthritis:
As is the case with most essential oils, ginger oil is very strong, so a
few drops of it should be used diluted in a carrier oil before applying
it onto the skin. Simply massage your knees or other painful areas with
the oil until it is absorbed, and you're done. You can also use a hot
compress on the area for an extra boost.
4. Orange Oil
Oranges are packed with beneficial
nutrients that have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and mood-bosting
properties that are known to help patients with all sorts of joint
issues and pain. One study from 2017, for example, looked at the effect
of orange essential oil aromatherapy for patients with painful fractured
limbs, with patients experiencing less pain as a result. The authors of
the study concluded that aromatherapy is a good complementary treatment
for joint pain.
One of the best perks of orange essential oil is its pleasant smell,
too, so you can mix in a few drops of it to mask other, less
pleasant-smelling essential oils. Speaking of mixing up oils, it's
absolutely safe and recommended, too, so you can definitely mix in
several kinds of essential oils into your own customs blends to reap all
of their benefits.
How to use orange oil for arthritis:
Adding a few drops of orange oil into a warm bath is a great way of
experiencing its benefits. You can also dilute it with a carrier oil and
apply directly onto the skin to reduce pain or use it in aromatherapy
as they did in the study we mentioned above. If you intend to use any
citrus oils topically, however, you must avoid the sunlight and use
proper sun protection afterward. Otherwise, it could cause skin burns.
5. Frankincense Oil
Frankincense oil is made of the dried sap
of the frankincense trees (Boswellia serrata Linn). The oil is a
favorite among practitioners of traditional medicine, who have been
using it for generations to aid all kinds of ailment, including
inflammatory conditions and chronic pain. The Arthritis Foundation
states that the acids naturally present in frankincense called Boswellic
acids can lower inflammation and reduce pain, as well as prevent
cartilage damage that occurs in rheumatoid arthritis.
How to use frankincense oil for arthritis:
The best way to take frankincense oil is in the form of capsules. Make
sure that the capsules contain at least 60% of Boswellic acid. The
recommended daily dose by the Arthritis Foundation is between 300 and
400 mg a day.
6. Turmeric Oil
Ginger's cousin, turmeric, is also widely
considered to be one of the most potent natural anti-inflammatories,
period. These properties are attributed to the compound called curcumin.
Of course, there are many ways you can take turmeric, and simply adding
it into foods as a spice may as well provide some benefits. Turmeric
supplements are also common, but it is also sold in the form of
essential oil, which can be used topically or inhaled to stimulate blood
circulation and reduce inflammation.
How to use turmeric oil for arthritis:
Using turmeric in aromatherapy is the way to go for most arthritis
sufferers, as the oil has a bright orange color and may stain skin or
clothing. That said, turmeric is also known for its youth-boosting skin
benefits, so using it topically may be a great way, too, if you're not
particularly scared of the staining. Like most essential oils, though,
turmeric oil must be diluted to be tolerated on the skin without any
irritation, so make sure to just mix a few drops of it into a carrier
oil before applying directly on the skin.